The Coronavirus Pandemic has the entire world in an uproar. In this blog post, I am including my personal reflections on resilience and leadership, but first and foremost, please make sure that you and your loved ones are staying safe.
The world has changed in the last couple of weeks more quickly and more abruptly than it ever has before. These chaotic times call for resilience and leadership more than ever.
Resilience
By resilience, I mean the ability to get back up when you are knocked down; the ability to redirect when you’ve gone offcourse.
I have been following the Coronavirus Pandemic for about four weeks and have been asking my parents (both over 70) to prepare. A few days ago, upon finding that they had left their home unexpectedly, I got angry. Resilience means coming back to the conversation hours later more calmly and communicating even more lovingly.
Resilience is a learned experience and takes practice. Have patience with yourself and your loved ones. Keep practicing.
Leadership
I recently read this tweet by General Stan McChrystal, the 4 star general responsible for special operations during the Iraq War. (Also, a great guy.)
As we lead through this time of crisis, leaders are more important than ever. Communicate relentlessly, match your internal operating pace with that of your external environment, and continue to reiterate what ‘winning’ looks like to your organization.
Leadership, whether with our families, teams, or in the highest levels of government, has never been more important. But what does that mean for me and you? Stan’s idea of intentionally matching our internal states with the needs of the circumstances resonates for me, especially as someone who is often operating at a very different speed than those around me.
In the last week, I’ve been alone at home, reading too much Twitter, and talking with family and friends. But in the past I’ve also been in the midst of medical crises. There are times that call for adrenaline and urgency; there are times where it is more effective to slow down. Practice matching your internal tempo to the needs of your situation!
And what does “winning” look like? For me, that is making sure that my family stays in lockdown (please don’t leave the house!). It means checking in with my team and making sure they are staying safe and sane. It means communicating calmly and intentionally to the communities I’m a part of or managing.
The clearer we can be internally, the more clearly we can support those we hold dear, our communities, and the world.
Stay strong!
Robin